Montana State University in Bozeman just hired a new president, Waded Cruzado from New Mexico. The taxpayers will pay $280,000 a year for her expertise, plus housing, car expenses, disability and country club benefits – that’s $135+ an hour. The president of the University of Montana, George Dennison, makes $205,050 ($99 an hour) a year with the same amenities. The Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Sterns earns $211,201 ($102 an hour) a year with similar benefits.
All this is happening while the commissioner bemoans higher tuition for college students and the need behind the future increases. Shouldn’t these leaders set the example and take cuts in pay while Montanans are losing their jobs like those in my area?
Should we start hiring people who are more in line with Montana wages or allow the educational bureaucracy to continue this ‘leap frog’ mentality that is now present in higher education?
As the New Year approaches higher educational officials are saying, “Ho, ho, ho” while college students, local districts scrambling with tight budgets and taxpayers are saying, “No, no, no!”
Rep. Dee Brown
Hungry Horse